By Blink EdTech Newsroom
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) report on Health Behaviour in School-aged Children has recently been published. The study surveyed 220,000 young people across Europe, of which over 11,000 were Spanish.
The press has highlighted two main aspects of the study,
the problem of childhood obesity, and also one more related to education, which is the supposed excessive homework load in Spanish schools.
WHO report: ‘As inequality grows so grow the disparities in young people’s Health and Welfare’
In this article we summarize in a practical way the key findings of the study in all matters relating to education and technology.
Parent-child communication
Regarding the communication between parents and children, the report found:
Percentage of young people who find it easy to talk to their parents.
Spain – 11 Years: Girls 75% (average: 70%) – Boys 85% (average: 82%).
Spain – 13 years: Girls 65% (average: 56%) – Boys 79% (average: 76%).
Spain – 15 Years: Girls 52% (average: 50%) – Boys 68% (average: 69%).
Using technology (Electronic Media Contact: EMC)
Generally speaking, technology is associated with potential benefits but also some risks such as bullying or cyberbullying, a problem that has spread to the technology world with all the hazards that entails, especially in terms of network perpetuity and public exposure.
On the other hand, technology can help social relations being an environment where it is possible to expose feelings, organize meetings with friends or develop friendships through the tools available for interaction.
Furthermore, the study mentions that technology could also lead to decreased physical activity.
Daily contact with friends through technology
Spain- 11 Years: Girls 15% (average: 32%) – Boys 14% (average: 23%).
Spain- 13 years: Girls 35% (average: 54%) – Boys 21% (average: 37%).
Spain: 15 Years: Girls 48% (average: 65%) – Boys 25% (average: 50%).
Young Spaniards have little or very little digital contact compared to the European average.
Schools: stress in students for homework
Another of the most newsworthy points and that came about during the last few months, is related to the possible excess in homework loads among young people in Spain.
The study asked the children surveyed how much pressure they felt by homework, ranging from «A lot» to «None whatsoever». The results show the following:
Percentage of young people who admit to feeling stress due to too much homework
Spain- 11 Years: Girls 27% (average: 21%) – Boys 38% (average: 25%).
Spain- 13 years: Girls 52% (average: 34%) – Boys 56% (average: 33%).
Spain: 15 Years: Girls 64% (average: 46%) – Boys 59% (average: 37%).
Young Spaniards have one of the highest levels of stress in the European Union. In the range of 13-15 years, Spain ranks fourth in total countries.
To read the full study, click here.
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